Columbus Crew SC vs. DC United | MLS Match Preview

Columbus Crew SC vs. DC United | MLS Match Preview

Columbus Crew SC vs. DC United - Match Preview Image

COLUMBUS CREW SC vs. D.C. UNITED
MAPFRE STADIUM, Columbus, Ohio
October 25, 2015 (WEEK 34, MLS Game #332)
5 p.m. ET (FS1)

When MLS original rivals Columbus Crew SC and D.C. United meet for the third time this season on Decision Day, it will be a massive contest in the final Eastern Conference lineup for the Audi 2015 MLS Cup Playoffs. Both clubs can finish anywhere from second to fifth in the East – meaning they can go anywhere from a first-round bye to traveling for a Knockout Round match at midweek. United have the upper hand, sitting in second place in the decision following their 4-0 win against the Chicago Fire last weekend at RFK Stadium. But Crew SC can claim the second position with a victory, coming off a 2-0 victory at Toronto FC last weekend.


  • Crew SC put an end to their two-game losing slide and secured their berth in the Audi 2015 MLS Cup Playoffs with a 2-0 win at Toronto FC on Sunday. Kei Kamara, tied for the Audi Golden Boot with TFC’s Sebastian Giovinco with 22 goals, received a yellow card and will miss the regular season finale.
  • D.C. United won their second game in a row, rolling to a 4-0 victory against the Chicago Fire on Sunday afternoon at RFK Stadium, as Fabian Espíndola and Álvaro Saborío each scored for a second successive game.
  • The teams are meeting for the third time this season, splitting the first two games. Fabian Espindola scored one goal and set up the other as United claimed a 2-0 victory May 2 at RFK Stadium; Ethan Finlay and Kei Kamara scored on other side of halftime as Crew SC took a 2-1 win Sept. 19, also in Washington.
  • United haven’t won in Columbus since 2007. Crew SC have won five of their seven home meetings since, with two draws.
  • United’s victory in the first meeting this season was their first against Crew SC since 2012. Crew SC had won three of the five meetings in between, with two draws. The first meeting win also ended a three-game Crew SC undefeated streak at RFK Stadium.


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REFEREE: Ismail Elfath. AR1 (bench): Ian Anderson; AR2 (opposite): Kevin Klinger; 4th: Silviu Petrescu
MLS Career: 62 games; FC/gm: 24.9; Y/gm: 3.1; R: 15; pens: 17


SUSPENDED: CLB: Federico Higuain (caution accumulation; through Oct. 25), Kei Kamara (caution accumulation; through Oct. 25)
WARNINGS:
FINED NEXT YELLOW CARD: DC: Davy Arnaud, Taylor Kemp, Bobby Boswell, Sean Franklin
DISABLED LIST: none
INTERNATIONAL ABSENCES: none


HEAD-TO-HEAD
ALL-TIME (61 meetings): Crew SC 25 wins (0 shootout), 87 goals … United 26 wins (5 shootout), 85 goals … Ties 10
AT COLUMBUS (29 meetings): Crew SC 16 wins (0 shootout), 44 goals …United 7 wins (2 shootout), 25 goals …Ties 6


CHECK OUT THE INJURY REPORT HEADING INTO THE MATCH
CHECK OUT THE DISCIPLINARY REPORT HEADING INTO THE MATCH